That's So Medieval

About That's So Medieval

The Middle Ages may not seem all that topical or important in an age dominated by science and technology, yet for better or worse, the medieval period created the world we live in today. In "That's So Medieval," Ph.D. candidate Benjamin Bertrand tries to find the connections between the medieval Church and the modern world. Over the course of twelve episodes, he interviews academics and artists who examine and obsess over the medieval world, uncovering the surprisingly close connections between that distant past and our modern age. New episodes release weekly on Wednesdays.

Publisher

Benjamin Bertrand

Category

history

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

25 May 2026

Latest episode

5 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

12 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   5 Aug 2026

   Season One Finale (and Teaser for Season Two)

   In today's episode, Benjamin bids a fond farewell to season one of That's So Medieval and teases the new (and old?) season two that will be released in a few months' time. Along the way he issues many heartfelt thanks to the listeners and also engages in terrible bits both old and new. This podcast is funded by Fordham's Center on Religion and Culture with the assistance of the Medievalist Toolkit. The music for this show is excerpted from "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Awaken the Soul⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/jon-shuemaker/taking-flight/awaken-the-soul/)" by John Schuemaker available, licensed under ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CC BY 4.0⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/%E2%81%A0).  You can find more of his music on his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠homepage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/jon-shuemaker/) at freemusicarchive.org. The record scratch sound is Vinyl Record Scratches (33 RPM) (https://freesound.org/s/827865/) by MirandaNicolas2009 (https://freesound.org/people/MirandaNicolas2009/), whose work you can find at freesound.org (License: Attribution 4.0).

2. 

   29 Jul 2026

   The Church and its Monsters

   The myth and folklore of the Middle Ages remains one of its most important impacts upon modern popular culture. Specifically, the monsters spawned by the medieval imagination linger on as part of the popular culture that we consume so voraciously in the modern world. The church played a role in the creation of these ideas, often helping modern scholars peer into the world of medieval folklore. In today's episode, Benjamin sits down with two scholars steeped in the monster lore of the medieval world. First, he sits down with Scott G. Bruce to discuss the monstrous world of the afterlife, dragons, and demons in the Middle Ages and his work on this culture for Penguin press. Then, he chats with Matt King about his new book, A History of Goblins: From Medieval Demons to World of Warcraft (https://www.amazon.co.uk/History-Goblins-Medieval-Demons-Warcraft/dp/3032010624). Their conversation not only provides insight into the creation of one of the most famous fantasy creatures but also gives insight into the challenges and possibilities of studying medieval folklore.

3. 

   24 Jul 2026

   The Medieval Church on Screen

   Sorry that this episode is coming late! I am currently abroad on a research trip and my accommodations on Wednesday made it impossible to post the episode due to very slow wifi. The way that most people interact with the Middle Ages, for better or worse, is through popular culture. Movies and television shows depict the medieval world (and medieval adjacent worlds) in a wide range of different formats: from the dreamy romanticism of King Arthur to the bleak "realism" of Game of Thrones. The medieval clergy, however, are rarely given much attention, and often are villainized in the depictions of the period. In today's episode, Benjamin sits down with Christina Bruno to talk about some more positive and nuanced depictions of the medieval clergy and is then joined by Caroline Golum and Laurence Bond to chat about their film Revelations of Divine Love, which seeks to introduce audiences to the medieval mystic Julian of Norwich through a film about her life.

4. 

   15 Jul 2026

   The Sounds of Medieval Music (with Alkemie)

   In this series, we've unraveled the world of medieval art, architecture, and theatre... so it's only fitting that we complete our survey of medieval culture with a deep dive into the sounds of the period. Medieval music could mean a lot of different things depending on the time and the region, but it is a lot more than the Gregorian chant that most people associate with the period. Thinking seriously about medieval forms of music, medieval instruments, and medieval songwriting is something that early music performers take very seriously. At a time when the aesthetic of medieval music is incredibly popular with genres like Bardcore and Dungeon Synth, it's worth taking a look at what medieval music could be. In today's episode, Benjamin sits down with Tracy Cowart and Sian Ricketts of the NYC-based early music group Alkemie (https://www.alkemie.org) to discuss the wide world of medieval music and the fascinating work that they do. They clue Ben in to the incredible sounds of the medieval period and discuss the process by which they go about pursuing their work. This podcast is funded by Fordham's Center on Religion and Culture with the assistance of the Medievalist Toolkit. The music for this show is excerpted from "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Awaken the Soul⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/jon-shuemaker/taking-flight/awaken-the-soul/)" by John Schuemaker available, licensed under ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CC BY 4.0⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/%E2%81%A0).  You can find more of his music on his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠homepage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/jon-shuemaker/) at freemusicarchive.org.

5. 

   8 Jul 2026

   The Church and Medieval Theatre (with Andrew Albin)

   Although today we often think of theatre as a high-status activity that only the cultured and elite participate in, the medieval reality was far different. Plays in the Middle Ages was a pastime performed to, and by, ordinary people. Although it had its roots in the Church, it grew to become a rich and varied experience that was very different from the rigid shape of much modern theatre. In today's episode, Benjamin is joined by Andrew Albin of Fordham University, who shares his expertise on studying and performing medieval theatre. He and Benjamin discuss the long history of this art form and the kinds of plays put on in the Middle Ages. They then talk at length about Andrew's work with Fordham students putting these shows on their feet and performing them in New York and abroad. Their conversation sheds light on this lost art form, which you can see more of at the Fordham Medieval Dramatists website (https://medievaldramatists.ace.fordham.edu)! This podcast is funded by Fordham's Center on Religion and Culture with the assistance of the Medievalist Toolkit. The music for this show is excerpted from "⁠⁠⁠⁠Awaken the Soul⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/jon-shuemaker/taking-flight/awaken-the-soul/)" by John Schuemaker available, licensed under ⁠⁠⁠⁠CC BY 4.0⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/%E2%81%A0).  You can find more of his music on his ⁠⁠⁠⁠homepage⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/jon-shuemaker/) at freemusicarchive.org.

6. 

   1 Jul 2026

   The Church and Architecture (with Meg Bernstein and Christina Bruno)

   One of the few places where everyone can easily see a bit of the medieval in the modern world is in architecture. Even if you've never taken a class on medieval art, you probably have a sense of what architecture feels medieval and evokes a history of castles and cathedrals. Odds are, you walk by a building that looks a bit medieval every day and never really think about it. In today's episode, Benjamin is joined by Meg Bernstein and Christina Bruno to talk about the history of medieval architecture. He and Dr. Bernstein chat a bit about the experience that medieval Christians had with architecture and how it informed their relationship with their faith. Then, he and Dr. Bruno sit down to talk about modern versions of medieval architecture and the fascinating work she is doing with the Medieval New York Project. This podcast is funded by Fordham's Center on Religion and Culture with the assistance of the Medievalist Toolkit. The music for this show is excerpted from "⁠⁠⁠⁠Awaken the Soul⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/jon-shuemaker/taking-flight/awaken-the-soul/)" by John Schuemaker available, licensed under ⁠⁠⁠⁠CC BY 4.0⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/%E2%81%A0).  You can find more of his music on his ⁠⁠⁠⁠homepage⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/jon-shuemaker/) at freemusicarchive.org.

7. 

   24 Jun 2026

   Experiencing Medieval Art (with Evan Gatti)

   If you’ve never seen a work of medieval art, then you probably assume that art in the period was all flat and bland and focused exclusively on upholding the power of the Church.  It is true that visual art in the Middle Ages looked very different from that of the Renaissance and of the modern world, but that doesn’t mean that it has nothing to offer us as modern audiences. In fact, experiencing medieval art can be extremely powerful, if we open ourselves up to the process. In today’s episode, Evan Gatti of Elon University sits down with Benjamin to talk about medieval church art. They discuss the discipline of art history and what the role that art could play in medieval society. In their conversation, Evan stresses the importance of understanding medieval art as an experience, trying to get into the heads of the medieval clergy and parishioners when they saw Church art.  At the end, Evan gives a whole list of recommendations for people trying to experience medieval art in different ways, online and in person! This podcast is funded by Fordham's Center on Religion and Culture with the assistance of the Medievalist Toolkit. The music for this show is excerpted from "⁠⁠⁠Awaken the Soul⁠⁠⁠ (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/jon-shuemaker/taking-flight/awaken-the-soul/)" by John Schuemaker available, licensed under ⁠⁠⁠CC BY 4.0⁠⁠⁠ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/%E2%81%A0).  You can find more of his music on his ⁠⁠⁠homepage⁠⁠⁠ (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/jon-shuemaker/) at freemusicarchive.org.

8. 

   17 Jun 2026

   Cathedral Schools and Education (with C. Stephen Jaeger)

   If you know anything about medieval education then you probably know that the idea of the university comes out of the culture of medieval Europe. While this is absolutely true, and an important step in the development of the modern world, there is more to medieval education than just the rise of the university. In the Central Middle Ages, an institution arose called the cathedral school that fostered a unique form of learning that preceded the university and profoundly affected medieval society. In today's episode, Benjamin is joined by C. Stephen Jaeger to talk about the development of the cathedral schools and how they influenced the culture of medieval Europe. They talk about medieval humanism, how the Church and the clergy were influenced by this kind of "charismatic education," and what the learning of the cathedral schools can still teach us today.

9. 

   10 Jun 2026

   The Church and Law (with Frances Eshleman)

   When you think of the Middle Ages, you probably imagine a chaotic period without any kind of real form of law. Yet while medieval Europe may not have had the same kinds of legal systems that we live under today, it was still a period where dramatic transformations and evolutions took place in the practice of law. One form of this was a kind of church law that influenced every aspect of medieval life and yet is woefully underrepresented in popular discussions of the medieval past: canon law. In today's episode, Benjamin sits down with Frances Eshleman to learn a bit more about the history of medieval law. They discuss how church law evolved from its "fuzzy" origins, how radical innovations in the twelfth century helped to change the norms of the day, and how this helped to give birth to the legal profession. They take no responsibility for that last bit, don't shoot the historians.

10. 

    3 Jun 2026

    The Church and Medieval Medicine (with Robin Reich)

    In this episode, Benjamin sits down with Robin Reich to talk about the medieval Church and its relationship with medicine. How did medieval people go about finding medical care? What role did infamous treatments like bloodletting play in their lives? How was the Church involved in medicine and how did it give rise to the practices of medicine (and sometimes wellness) that we see in the world today? How did the Church react to that most infamous and medieval of diseases: the Black Death? Robin Reich of Seattle University shares her expertise on these subjects to help us better understand the medicine of the Middle Ages and the ways it still influences us today. This podcast is funded by Fordham's Center on Religion and Culture with the assistance of the Medievalist Toolkit. The music for this show is excerpted from "⁠⁠Awaken the Soul⁠⁠ (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/jon-shuemaker/taking-flight/awaken-the-soul/)" by John Schuemaker available, licensed under ⁠⁠CC BY 4.0⁠⁠ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/⁠).  You can find more of his music on his ⁠⁠homepage⁠⁠ (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/jon-shuemaker/) at freemusicarchive.org.

11. 

    27 May 2026

    Episode 2: The Medieval Clergy (featuring John Ott and Anna Trumbore Jones)

    In this episode, Benjamin sits down with John Ott and Anna Trumbore Jones to talk about the history of the medieval clergy. Who were the clergy? What did they do? How did they influence the lives of ordinary people in the Middle Ages? Drs. Ott and Jones help to unravel these questions as experts in the field who have recently completed a book on the subject, The Medieval Clergy 800-1250: A Sourcebook (https://www.brepols.net/products/IS-9780888443137-1). The book is an outstanding resource for students and scholars alike who wish to know more about the role that the clergy played in the medieval world, and this conversation brings out their experience and expertise for the listener. We also get another appearance of recurring character Bodo the Peasant, who'll be with us for the whole series. This podcast is funded by Fordham's Center for Religion and Culture with the assistance of the Medievalist Toolkit. The music for this show is excerpted from "⁠Awaken the Soul⁠ (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/jon-shuemaker/taking-flight/awaken-the-soul/)" by John Schuemaker available, licensed under ⁠CC BY 4.0⁠ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/⁠).  You can find more of his music on his ⁠homepage⁠ (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/jon-shuemaker/) at freemusicarchive.org.

12. 

    25 May 2026

    Episode 1: Introducing That's So Medieval

    In the first episode of That's So Medieval, Benjamin Bertrand introduces listeners to himself and the show. Focusing on the history of the medieval church and its connections to the modern world, That's So Medieval is a twelve-part series that will dive deep into topics in medieval religious history. The goal of the series is to highlight the ways in which the medieval church, and the medieval world, continues to influence modern society in ways that most people never recognize. This first episode sets the tone for the rest of the series and gives a sneak peak of some of the topics that we'll be exploring over the next few months. This podcast is funded by Fordham's Center for Religion and Culture with the assistance of the Medievalist Toolkit. The music for this show is excerpted from "Awaken the Soul (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/jon-shuemaker/taking-flight/awaken-the-soul/)" by John Schuemaker available, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/⁠).  You can find more of his music on his homepage (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/jon-shuemaker/) at freemusicarchive.org.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Contact That's So Medieval

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.